Hopper construction



Oct. 22, 1929. F. B. ALLEN HOPPER CONSTRUCTION 2 Smets-Sheet l Original Filed July 27, 1925 INVENTOR M ld/L5M ATT NFY:`

Get. 22, 1929. F. B. ALLEN 1,732,543

HOPPER CONSTRUCTION Original Filel July 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ATTRNEY Patented @et 22, 1929 U N l "l` E S T res PATENT oFFlcn FRNK B. ALLEN, OF LO'WER MARON TOVJNSHP, PENNSYLVANEA, ASSIGNUR, :BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T THE ALLIEhLSHEBMAN-HFF CGMEANY, 01E PHLDEL- lul-11de, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF YENIUSYLVANIA.

HOPPER CONSTEUC'IIN Application led July 27, 1925, Serial No. 46,503.

This invention relates to hopper construction and particularly to the construction of a liquid handling gate for a hopper containing solid and liquid materials.

One object of the invention is to construct a door frame, for a solid and liquid material containing hopper having a bottom discharge opening, which is formed to deliver into a stationary trough, or through the bottom opening of the hopper, substantially all the liquid passing through the hopper.

Another object `is to construct a gate comprising a door frame and door for a liquid and solid material carrying hopper having a bottom discharge opening, which parts cooperate to forni a plurality of separate, bottoni fed liquid channels on one or more sides of the door.

Another object is to construct a liquid handling gate for a hopper having a bottom discharge opening having a self cleaning liquid carrying channel at the rear end thereof.

Another object is to construct a door frame for a hopper having a bottom discharge opening, which is provided with means for permitting drainage of water beneath the bottoni ends of the hopper walls over the frame and for directing all water falling onto the frame, onto the door or stationary trough.

@ther objects will appear and be pointed out hereinafter.

ln the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification:

ldig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through one form of gate construction einbodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, verticallsection taken substantially on line 2-2 of F 1g. 1;

3 is a top plan view taken on line 3--3 of llig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing another forni of .gate construction enibodying my invention;

5 is a longitudinal, sectional view talren substantially on line 5 5 of 4; and

5o Fig. l is a top plan view of the apparatus Renewed August 29, 1929.

shown in Fig. 5 with members 31 and the parts thereon removed.

Referring iirst to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be understood that 1 designates the fragnientary bottoni end of the walls of a hopper ,.5 having `a bottom discharge opening 2. The o gate shown in these figures includes a door frame 3, a door 4. and girders 5 attached to the frame and disposed on either side of the opening 2. rThese girders 5 are also con- 0 nected to the hopper walls 1, by any suitable means, for example, by angles 6, 7 and 8 and extend along and beyond each opening 2 to carry suitable rollers 9 upon which the door 4 moves in a substantially horizontal plane.

The fra-mc 3 consists of a plate-like portion 10 having substantially vertical upstanding marginal flanges 11 on opposite sides thereof, a corresponding marginal flange 12 at the rear end thereof and a vertical flange 13 at the frontend thereof. The plate 10 constitutes a hollow square, the opening 14 through the center of which is sub stantially aligned with the opening 2 in the hopper so that material discharged from the hopper will pass through the opening 14. Adjacent to the inner edges of the plate 10, about the opening 14, are disposed depending flanges 15 on all four sides of the opening 14. The flange 15 at the rear end of the opening 14 is integral with a flange 16 which diverges from the flange 15 and extends downwardly to a point below the lower edge of the flanges 15, for a purpose later to be described. Openings 15t in flanges 15 permit escape of liquid and smaller pieces of solids to the exterior thereof.

The door 4 is of substantially the construction described in my copending application, Serial No. 683,792, now Patent 1,547,284, pat ented July 28th, 1925 and comprises a body portion 17 suitably lined with refractory inaterial and provided with marginal side flanges 18 and rear end flanges 19. At the front end of the door a horizontally disposed iiange 20 projects forwardly to discharge liq nid into a stationary trough 21 which extends across the line ofmovement of the door and is adjustablyv carried; by the door frame, as by means-of a bolt 22 adjustable ina slot 23l and 1e also by means of shims 24. By these means the trough 21 may be adjusted in a vertical plane, as Well as in a horizontal plane. With the door 4 and frame 3 assembled in the operative position show-n in these figure-s, the depending flanges and 16 cooperate with the marginal door flange 19 to form a plurality of, in this case two, bottom fed liquid carrying channels designa-ted by the letters a and a on Fig. 2. It will be understood that a mixture of solid and liquid material accumulating on the door 4 and in the 'hopper Will result in most of the water and some small amount of the ash or solid material passing into channel a where practically all of such solid material will be retained while some of the liquid may pass on into channel The side flanges 15 cooperate with the side flanges 18 on the door in a similar manner but form only one liquid carrying` channel on each side of the door, each of which communicates with the rear end channels L and a. Vhen the door 4 is moved into open position with respect to the door frame 3, the front end flange 20 of the door will assume substantially the position indicated in phantom in Fig. 2 beneath and in substantially the same Vertical plane with flange 1G so that channel a is substantially self cleaning by g-ravityasregards not only its liquid but also its sol-id content. The projection of flange 16V laterally beyond the side flanges 15 providesv means for, removing an accumulation of solid material on the door between the flanges 15 and 18 as will readily be undersage of liquid from within the hopper to the 'outsideof the ash retaining hopper walls and for vdrainage of liquid on the door frame to the'door or Ystationary trough. 'The form of this means shown in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a plurality of-members which may be termed '.stools"andwhich are cast metal pieces interposed in the space between the top of plate 3 and the bottom ends of the hopper walls 1.

'l `Each stool comprises a top horizontally disposed portion v25, `a depending flange 26 at the inneredge thereof which-extends to below the top vof plate 10 and 'to Within `the opening 14 in frame 3, and is supported on the frame 3 by legs 27 extending from flange 26V and legs 27a-depending from portion 25. Each leg 27 preferably straddlesa lug 28 on the frame 1. The lugs 28 are preferably not continuous .but are separated by vgaps 29 through which v liquid mayflow beneath the hopper walls 1 down along the flanges 15 onto the door 4. The walls 1 and flanges 26 act as ash retaining walls. 'lhe spaces 29 between the flanges 26 and flanges 15 permit liquid to escape from the hopper onto the frame and thence pass to the door or trough 21 through openings -O and 3G when the liquid banks up in the hopper sufficiently. At the front end of the .frame 3 openings 30 are provided for liquid accumulating beneath the walls 1 at that end of the frame, this opening 30 being disposed to discharge water onto the door 8 or into the trough 2l, as desired. Other openings 3U may be employed to discharge water onto the door 3.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the gate shown in these figures includes a door traine 31, a door 32 and h stationary trough 323, the numeral 34 indicating fragmentarily the bottom ends of hopper walls between which a bot-tom discharge opening 35 is formed. 'lhe door 32 is similar in substantially all respects to the door 4 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The stationary trough 33 differs slightly in configuration from the corresponding stationary trough 21 of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but is supported for vertical and lengthwise iuljustlnent, by means shiins 34'L1 and bolts 35, in substantially the saine manner as described for the trough 21 in Figs. 1 to 3.

rllhc door frame 31 comprises a horizontally disposed plate 3G having upwardly and outwardly inclined flanges 37 at the outer periphery thereof' on all .four sides, thel plate 36 being substantially rectangular and having a centrally disposed rectangular opening 38. rI he frame 31 is connected to the hopper walls 34 and carries the oppositely disposed door carrying girders 39. Adjacent to the inner edges of the plate 36 are depending flanges 40 on each side of the opening 38, which it Will be noted registers with the onening 35 between the hopper walls. These flanges 40 are preferably, although not necessarily, provided with openings 41 which extend from the bottom edge of the flange upwardly to permit ready escape ot' liquid and of smaller particles of solid material from the hopper. Outer flanges 42 likewise depend from plate 36 and are spaced ouwardl y from the depending flanges l0 and pre f-'erably extend to a point below the lower edges of the flanges 40. As shown in these figures. the flanges extend on the rear end and both sides of the frame 1")1 and coopera te with the marginal rear end and side edge. lil and 4l, respectively, of the door 32 to forni a plurality of, in this case two, bottoni fed liquid carrying channels and o at the rear end and both sides of the door 82. Liquid and finely divided solid material may pass into the channels Z) where most of the solid niaterial will be retained while the liquid may flow into channels 7) and be disharged at one end of the door. The horizontal flange lon llo'

l ll

f ing to those above described. ihese l 45 at the iront end ot' the door 32 assumes substantially the position indicated in phanton'i in Fig. below and in substantially the Vertical plane oi the rear depending llange l2 so that in moving the door 32 in open position not only the side manuels o but also the rear end Channel o will be automatically leaning. rlhe side channels o will discharge any solid material therein onto the top of the body portion oi' the door 32, s the door moves to open position. 1illhen the door is being' moved to closed position, the depending` wall l2 will torce such material on top et the door outwardly over the top ot the rear end flange d3. ln this marmer the channels are all substantially eelt clean ing every time the door is opened and closed.

rlfhe means provided in the apparatus oi FigsE 4ito i5 for permittine` drainage ot lit iid over the door trame and beneath the bottom ends of the hopper walls consists et a series ot Vertical ribs #itl intesi-al with t ci the upper side ot the plate llhe ribs lo coope at with the plates i7 t torni stools cori separated by raps i6@ through which liqipd may flow below the walls and carry n their top surlaoes plates which project inwardly beyond the flange i0 and entend down below the top ot plate 3G to torni ash retaining` walls and liquid passages extendingl upwardly from within the ash retaining,l walls to outside thereof and on the top of the trame. it the liront end et the 'frame an opening,` i8 permits escape ot liquid from the top ot irame 31 into the stationary trough 33 by way oit an adjustable detlector 49, which is carried by the trame while addition openings 50 in traine 3l may be employed to conduct liquid on to door 32.

Having thus described my invention so that those skilled in the art may be able to practice the same, what li desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

il] hat is claimed is:

l. in combination 'with a hopper for containiirii` solid and liquid material and haringl an openin in its lower portion, a door irame having an opening` registering with that ol the hopper, upwarilly extendino' tlang'es upon said 'trame spaced outwardly trein the bottom ends ot the hopper walls, and spacing` means between the trame and hopper walls providing tor liqui d drainage under the hopper walls. l

2. lin combination with a hopper tor containing` solid and liquid material an d having,r a discharge openingl in its lower portion, a

door trame harinp,1 an opening,- registeringwith that et the hopper and attached to the hopper, upstandinav 'flanges on said :ironie spaced outwardly from the bottom ends ot the hopper walls, stools on the trame engrgagu ing the bottom ends et the hopper walls i.,

spacing` the frame and the walls apart Vertically, the stools having,` inner edge flanges entending` below the top oi the trame within the opening,1 thereof.,

3. ln combination with a hopper 'for containing` solid and liquid material oud hai/ing a discharge opening in its lower portion, a door 'trame conne e l to the hopper and haring,v an opening;l i torinol w" h the opening; therein, inner ilanges depending; rom the iranie along the rear end and loi ntudinal sides of the opening, outer tlara'es dei'iendinp; from the 'traine outwardly 'from the said inner end an d side flanges, a movable door con stituting a closure Ator the opening', the door having upstandino,` tlangres alone' its rear en d and two sides spaced outwardly 'troia said outer dependinp,` ironie flanges an d extending; above the bottoni thereof to 'form therewith a plurality oit bottoni ted liquid carrying; channels alone; the rer-ir end and sides ot the door, the door moving sui'liciently when opened to clear the space between the inner and outer traine flanges.

4l. In. combination with a hopper :for con tainingr lid and liquid material and ha a discharge openingI in its lower portion, a hoor traine connected to the hopper and having,l au opening; registoring,` with the discharge opening thereeif, inner lanees dependingr troni the inner periphery ot the 'traine about the opening` and provided with notches in their lower edges, an outer thingie depen ding from the iframe to the rear o'li the rear inner iiange, a movable door constituting,` a closure for the discharge opening;` and having; rip-- standing tlangres on the rear end and sides thereof spaced outwardly ot said depending trame flanges and extending above the bot toni edges of the depending` flanges to iorm therewith a plurality ot bottom ted liquid carifying channels.

5. ln combination with a hopper haring` a discharge opening in its lower portion, a door traine having); an opening,l aligned therewith, upstanding flanges on said trame spaced apart from and surrounding' the lower ends oi the walls ot the hopper, means for spacing the traine and hopper whereby tluid passages are formed eztendingl from within the hopper to the space enclosed by said up standing` ilangres, and drain means receiving fluid trom said space.

6. in combination with a hopper tor containing` solid and liquid materials and having' a discharge openin@` in its lower portion, a frame having; an opening ali gned with said discharge opening', a door iter closingI said opening, solid material retaining); walls on the frame about the opening thereof', upstanding.;` flanges surroundine1 the traine and spaced outwardly from the lower ends oit the solid material retaining1 walls ot the hopper, and forming main liquid carrying; passages outside of said solid material ret-ainl lll 'iso ing walls of the hopper, the frame having auxiliary liquid carrying passages extending upwardly from said door to the main passages.

7. n Combination with a hopper having a discharge opening` in its lower portion and having` solid material retaining hopper walls extending upwardly from said opening, a frame eooperaiging wish the said walls having a Central opening aligned with said discharge opening, solid material retaining walls on the frame about the said Central opening, upstanding` flanges on the frame spaced apart outwardly from the lower ends of said solid material retaining walls of the hopper and forming:y main liquid carrying passages outside of the said solid niaerial retaining walls, a door serving as a closure for the opening in the frame and forming with he Jframe auxiliary liquid carrying passages extending upwardly from said central opening 'to said inain passages, the said frame also having,` passages leading from the main passages Jchrough the frame.

In testimony whereof I hereune my signature this 8th day of July, 1925.

FRANK B. ALLEN. 

